On a recent episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS),QUEENSRŸCHE's Todd La Torre discussed how the fact that he is a longtime cigarette smoker has — or has not — affected his singing voice. The 48-year-old musician, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James] Dio smoked forever. [Luciano] Pavarotti [one of the legendary Three Tenors and widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century] smoked forever. Granted, I think he died of lung cancer [laughs], but he sang like a fucking bird.

"Look, there's a great singer named Fabio Lione; he's an Italian guy," Todd continued. "And he's kind of that power metal, melodic singing. I mean, that guy smokes like a chimney. He's probably my age or in the same ballpark or older.

"I remember when I joined CRIMSON GLORY, some friends were saying, 'You should go to this singing coach. He taught Midnight [late CRIMSON GLORY singer]. Or Midnight took lessons from him. And so did…', blah blah blah. And I just went for an evaluation: What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong?" Todd recalled. "I don't know what I'm doing; I'm just doing whatever I do. He said, 'You know how many people come to me like you?' And I said, 'Probably a lot.' He goes, 'Very few.' He goes, 'You have amazing technique. You have…' blah blah blah blah blah. 'But now we're gonna go… I wanna find your weaknesses. Let's try to build those up.'

"People go, 'Do you warm up? Do you do this?' Ninety percent of the time, I literally — if I'm just being honest — I'll have a coffee and I'll smoke and the pre-roll is rolling and I'll go [have a final puff of the cigarette]. Then I walk out and I sing. And I've done that forever.

"[The voice coach] said… I said, 'Look, I'm a smoker.' He's, like, 'I'll give you my honest opinion on this. I've been a professional voice coach for…' blah blah blah. He goes, 'Look, it's unhealthy. I'm not gonna sit here and tell you it's healthy. It's not. It's bad for your health.' He goes, 'As far as singing, in my opinion, [after] doing this for 40 years, I don't think that it will ruin your singing voice at all. I think that, number one, everyone is different. But he said it's all conditioning.

"It's funny 'cause there are people that will smoke weed but don't smoke cigarettes," La Torre added. "And they'll be, like, 'Smoking cigarettes is bad for you.' They don't consider themselves smokers 'cause they're smoking weed. I'm, like, 'Listen, you're inhaling smoke, which is an irritant and it will dry you out. And you're still sucking that stuff down.'

"You hydrate from the inside out, so when you pass water down your voice, yeah, it might be a little soothing but you're not necessarily hydrating the vocal folds in the way that your body will be hydrated through consuming water and that going to the tissues and muscles and things like that. So it's a conception that people think, 'Oh, if I just drink something, the liquid passing down my throat is gonna somehow make my vocal cords all good.' So I drink water throughout the day. I don't drink — I've never been drunk in my life; I've never smoked weed in my life; I've never done any drugs other than nicotine, which I'll admit it. I quit for two years. Many years ago, there was an illness in the family, and then, out of the stress, I started again. It was a very serious illness that was happening in my family. But for those two years that I quit, and I was still singing like I do, I never sang better. It didn't change my voice at all; I wasn't singing higher because of it. It was the exact same.

"People will sit there and say, 'Oh, he didn't hit that note. The smokes are not working out for him.' But then the next night I'll go out and crush it," La Torre said. "And I smoked a pack since then. And so what are they gonna say then? It's, like, never mind I'm talking; I'm in a tour bus with recirculating air; there's people getting sick all around you; I just performed 17 QUEENSRŸCHE songs in a row, which is — let's be honest — it's not easy stuff for people to sing, so it's a very vocally demanding thing.

"I'm not trying to defend smoking, but it's a very fair comment that, 'Hey, it's probably not doing you any favors.' I agree with that — it's not."

Philip Anselmo (PANTERA),Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT) and Udo Dirkschneider (ACCEPT) are among the other hard rock and heavy metal singers who have admitted to smoking cigarettes in the past.

In a 2009 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford said that he "quit smoking" a long time ago in order to better take care of his voice.

Back in 2014, former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno insisted his voice was in better condition than Halford's even though he was still drinking and smoking. "I'm hitting notes Rob Halford can't hit anymore," Paul said at the time. "And the reason is I don't fuss over it. Some people go, 'I've got a slight cough; let's cancel the whole show. If you look at my touring schedule, it's brutal. Normally I do this five, six, seven days a week. I still smoke, I still drink — I still have it, mate."

In a 2013 interview with Myglobalmind, PRETTY MAIDS singer Ronnie Atkins, who is now battling stage four cancer, joked that the secret to keeping his voice in shape was "20 cigarettes a day and little drink now and then."

Pop superstar Lady Gaga admitted in a 2020 interview that she used to smoke "40 cigarettes all day long" before finally quitting.

According to Tobacco Free Life, "the effects of smoking on your vocal folds are almost entirely negative. You might be able to get a raspy quality in your singing you wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise, but you'll [experience an] impact on your range, the control you have over your voice and your stamina as a performer."

In a December 2021 interview with Sally Steele of Vegas Rocks! Magazine, original QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was asked if he ever drank or smoked in the earlier years of his career. "[I did] everything," he responded. "[But] I didn't make it a habit. I like to drink; that's no secret. I'm a drinker, absolutely. I don't think those things are going to necessarily keep you from singing, as long as you keep things in moderation and exercise… You've gotta keep things in check. Smoking definitely is not a good thing, though. I [smoked cigarettes] when I was a kid — when I was young. [But] I had to [stop]."

HANOI ROCKS guitarist Andy McCoy has once again slammed MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx over his account of his heroin overdose, as published in CRÜE's best-selling band autobiography, "The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band" and "The Dirt" biopic.

The 59-year-old Finnish-born musician, whose real name is Antti Hulkko, discussed his relationship with Nikki in a new interview with IndiePower. McCoy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm not a farm boy like Nikki Sixx; I'm from the inner city. And I can't stand bullshit — like his books; [they're] full of lies. I saved the guy's life," he added, apparently touching upon a time when he supposedly revived Sixx after a heroin overdose. "And he makes up stories."

Referring to another one of Sixx's tales — of supposedly getting pummeled with a baseball bat on the floor of a London dealer's flat after another overdose — Andy said: "I mean, I used to play baseball. You think someone would survive if I [hit] him with a baseball bat? Hell no! Hell no, man."

Circling back to the time when he "saved" Nikki's life, Andy said: "I fucking got him revived, got his heart beating again. And the thank you I've gotten has been 'de nada'. I mean, de nada," he reiterated, using the Spanish phrase for "it's nothing." "And that makes him a second-class citizen in my eyes. 'Cause he only thinks about the buck."

HANOI ROCKS drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley was killed and two other people were seriously injured when CRÜE singer Vince Neil, whose blood alcohol level was 0.17, which was over the legal limit, smashed his car into another vehicle in Redondo Beach, California in December 1984. Last month, Andy told Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live! that he "never even got as much as an apology from that motherfucker. You know who I'm talking about," he said. "I'm not gonna give any names. Why would I give him fame? Fuck him!

"Every time I see him, he runs away," he continued. "Because he knows what I'd do. But that's our business."

Referencing the fact that Neil and GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose publicly traded insults in 1989 after Vince reportedly accused then-GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin of assaulting his wife, Andy said that he would never do anything "like Axl did" with the epic GUNS N' ROSES diss track "Get In The Ring". "No. I'm a freakfire," he said. "I'm from the inner city. [Vince is] from fucking suburban California. You can never compare us, what we know. You read me, bro."

Also last month, McCoy called CRÜE "fucking ripoffs" for embarking on "their 25th goodbye tour or something," referencing CRÜE's current North American shows as part of "The Stadium Tour".

When "Waste Some Time With Jason Green" video podcast host Jason Green noted that he likes the fact that Andy is "so open" about his feelings about the CRÜE, McCoy said: "I speak the truth, mate. I don't lie, like Nikki Sixx, through my fucking teeth."

McCoy was then asked about CRÜE's decision to title their box set "Music To Crash Your Car To", a move that HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe had previously called "beyond disrespectful". "I thought, and Michael Monroe thought, [that] was the tackiest title, thinking about what had happened… That was in real tacky, bad taste," Andy said. "If you're European like me, it's something you don't do. You respect other people. You just don't wanna make a buck for yourself. You respect other people."

Speaking about the two people who sustained lifelong injuries in Neil's car crash, Andy said: "People forget about those two. I remember. I never forget. People tend to forget about them. And that was horrible. It was just plainly wrong. Fifty yards to the liquor store. I thought they'd walk. But no, this motherfucker — I don't care to mention his name; you know who he is — had to show off his second-hand fucking ugly Pantera, which ain't even a nice car to me."

When Green mentioned that the circumstances surrounding the incident were exaggerated in both the "The Dirt" autobiography and biopic, Andy said: "Like the party in that movie, the MÖTLEY CRÜE movie, in some mansion. You know what really happened? We were in a two-bedroom apartment. It was five people there. When I saw that movie, or clips of it, I was, like, 'I don't wanna see the whole movie. This is bullshit again. Hollywood bullshit.' [HANOI ROCKS bassist] Sami [Yaffa] was passed out on the sofa, and Vince's pregnant wife, who was on her seventh or eighth month. That's who was there, [along with me and MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee]. So the movie is just pure lies and bollocks again. And I can't go for that kind of crap. I want the reality out."

When Green mentioned that it is obvious how much of an influence HANOI ROCKS had been on MÖTLEY CRÜE in the early years, Andy said: "You can bloody see, can't you?"

Sixx previously addressed McCoy's criticisms of "The Dirt" in a 2005 interview with Wisconsin-Music.com. Asked about Andy's claim that certain things that are described in "The Dirt" are "pure lies", Sixx laughed and said: "You know what I love about that? You've got a has-been that never was just fuckin' grabbing at straws to get attention. I mean, c'mon, man. And nothing he says makes any fucking sense. You ever read the interview where he said that his band sold more records than our band? I was like, 'Dude, are you crazy!' [mimics McCoy] 'We sold fifty million records and they sold forty, we were a bigger band than them.' And I'm like, 'Dude, why do you care about my ass so bad? You won't stop talking about it.' He's got a fuckin' crush on me or something."

When the interviewer noted that HANOI's association with MÖTLEY CRÜE came about primarily because of the car accident that killed Razzle, Nikki said: "Sure. It's a very sad thing to happen, but dude, stop already trying to get attention for yourself. He's like the drunk chick at a party that won't stop splashing everybody. But she has bad tits. Stop! [Laughs] No one's gonna fuck ya. No matter — Andy, no matter how much you talk about MÖTLEY CRÜE, your band still isn't gonna make it. Figure it out. I mean, go talk about Keith Richards; maybe that will give you another fuckin' one album sale. [Laughs]"

In a 2005 interview with Metal Express, Andy called the description of the events surrounding the tragic car accident caused by Neil in CRÜE's autobiography "bullshit" and "pure lies." He explained: "I was there. What happened was Razzle disappeared, and so did Vince. The rest of us were chilling out, man. And he had a wife who was seven months pregnant. After an hour or so, she started getting worried. So me and T-Bone, Tommy Lee, took his car and we went looking for him. We drove past this accident. So I was like, 'What color was the car he was driving around?' 'Hey, man, we just passed the fucking scene of an accident with a bright red sports car all smashed up.' I saw Razzle's hat on the street, I went up, 'What the fuck's happened?' They said, 'You have to go to this and this hospital.' In the hospital, I walk in with Tommy, and I was asking about Razzle, and this doctor walks up, 'Anybody here know this guy called Razzle?' I said, 'Yeah, I do, his family.' 'Sorry, your friend has passed away.' I thought he might have a broken leg or something. I had to call the band, and you don't tell this kind of news over the telephone. I asked them to come to the hospital. And it was a pretty sad scene altogether."

In the same interview, McCoy was asked if he had spoken to any of the members of MÖTLEY CRÜE since publicly voicing his displeasure over "Music To Crash Your Car To". "The only one I talk to nowadays is Tommy Lee," Andy replied. "I don't know… Nikki Sixx has got something against me. Maybe he doesn't like that I tell the truth about his fucking heroin overdose. He was never beat up with no fucking baseball bats. The only place he got beat was on his heart to keep it going and with my hands, and giving him a breath of life. And he's a lard-ass anyway, so it wasn't easy carrying him around and trying to get him to wake up — fucking dragging him to the shower and shit. And then having to read how he was O.D.ed and beaten up with baseball bats and all this crap. C'mon, wake up. I warned him that the stuff was strong. But he wanted to be a tough boy, but with that kind of shit, you don't wanna be a tough boy, 'cause it might be a very thin line between life and death you're playing with. Is it worth it? No."

For his role in the Redondo Beach crash, Vince was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. His blood alcohol level was 0.17, which was over the legal limit. Neil served half of a 30-day jail sentence, received five years probation and had to pay $2.6 million in restitution, as well as perform 200 hours of community service.

Two years ago, Monroe told "The Classic Metal Show" that he was "not interested at all" in seeing "The Dirt". Monroe went on to say that the car accident "certainly destroyed a lot of people's lives. I've never blamed anybody — you can't blame anybody for an accident — but a lot of people's lives were shattered, "he said. "As well as the two teenagers who got paralyzed in the accident; I've heard that there was no mention of them either [in the film].

"It's a depressing subject and it's always like opening a can of worms," Michael continued. "And I just don't wanna get into all that. It's just useless."

Back in 2004, Monroe slammed MÖTLEY CRÜE for the band's decision to title a box set "Music To Crash Your Car To", calling the move beyond disrespectful and referring to Sixx as "shallow," "ignorant" and "stupid". "The 'Mostly Crude' gotta be as dumb as they are to have done that," he told Metal Sludge. "I'm not only talking about Razzle, but also for the other families involved in the accident... As we've previously stated: The most tasteless and murderous gimmick to cash in on the past we've ever heard of. There's nothing 'cool' or 'funny' about death or winding up a paraplegic for life. How low can you go? I'd say this gave bad taste a bad name."

Three years later, Monroe publicly apologized to Sixx, saying that his "unflattering comments" about the bassist were "really childish and stupid." He explained: "I just took it a bit personally when they called their album at the time 'Music to Crash Your Car To'. I thought it was inappropriate since it came across as if they were making fun of the accident, which I'm sure was not their intention."

In 2011, Monroe gave Sleaze Roxx his take on what happened that night: "There was an accident, and unfortunately our drummer was killed. As far as Vince Neil, I have nothing to say. It was an accident. What happened happened, and it can't be changed. Everybody suffered from the whole thing."

Even though HANOI ROCKS was formed in Finland, their trashy, hedonistic, decadent hard rock/pop-metal boogie influenced many Los Angeles acts, including CRÜE and GUNS N' ROSES.

HANOI ROCKS originally broke on to the hard rock scene in the first half of the 1980s, becoming one of the first Finnish bands to make an international impact. HANOI ROCKS's career was subsequently derailed after the death of Razzle. Internal tensions and the commercial disappointment that was 1985's "Rock & Roll Divorce" led to Monroe leaving the band that year, thus putting an early end to HANOI ROCKS.

CRÜE fans who shelled out for the band's 2014/2015 "farewell" tour were led to believe that the group would never return after playing its final show on December 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band touted the signing of a pre-tour "cessation of touring" agreement as cementing the fact it truly was the end of CRÜE's life on the road.

Nashville metal band, Orthodox, have just released their new track and music video for “Dissolve”. Watch the clip below.


"Time kills everything,” states frontman Adam Easterling.  







Orthodox will release their new full-length album, Learning To Dissolve, on August 19 via Century Media Records. Pre-orders are available here.





Learning To Dissolve tracklisting:


"Feel It Linger"
"Head On A Spike"
"Cave In"
"Become Divine"
"Digging Through Glass"
"Nothing To See"
"1 1 7 6 2"
"Dissolve"
"Fast Asleep"
"All That I Am"
"Voice In The Choir"


"Head On A Spike" video:





The sound of Orthodox is the opposite of what most associate with the laid-back energy and country-fied twang of their native Nashville, Tennessee. Orthodox’s distinct, nu-metal-tinged brand of metallic hardcore has carved its own lane with their Century Media debut, Learning to Dissolve. Learning To Dissolve is the punctuation on a journey that began with 2017’s Sounds of Loss. From the inception, Orthodox were nothing short of a standout, blending together riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Slipknot record coupled with Easterling’s blunt, Jonathan Davis-esque howls. But, like their sonic brethren in Knocked Loose or Vein.FM, while the influence of the 90’s/00’s is there, Orthodox doesn’t merely pay homage to their influences, it exceeds them.


Written during the global pandemic and world shutdown of 2020, Learning to Dissolve was born of frustration. That is, until Easterling and guitarist Austin Evans began to really dig in. Recording in the dead heat of Summer with producer and mixer Randy Lebooeuf (Thy Art Is Murder, Kublai Khan) at Graphic Nature Audio in Belleville, New Jersey, found the band in creative overdrive, ripping their songs apart.


While 2019’s Let It Take Its Course focused on the duality of love and anger Learning to Dissolve is born of intense self-reflection. It digs deeper than most metal or hardcore records. Not surprisingly, that ethos has echoed throughout Orthodox’s existence as a band, whose members past and present come from backgrounds rooted in straight-edge hardcore.


Orthodox is:


Adam Easterling (vocals)
Austin Evans (guitar)
Shiloh Krebs (bass)
Mike White (drums)


(Photo - Nick Chance)

For its 40th anniversary, Pollstar, the trade publication dedicated to covering the worldwide concert industry, has created two special charts that reflect the overall impact of box-office realities during the four decades of the Pollstar Era, beginning in 1980 through the present. The two special charts present the "Top Touring Artists Of The Pollstar Era", both ranking the top 150 headlining acts during Pollstar's entire history. Each listing is comprised of cumulative totals for each artist and compiled from all the thousands of box-office reports Pollstar received since the early 1980s. Both charts present the Top Touring Artists, but one is ranked by gross and the other by the number of tickets sold. For both, Pollstar has counted only headlining shows for each act, omitting results from any festival appearance since the festival itself is eligible to rank on the All-Time Boxoffice chart, as many of them have. Pollstar also did not include any event where the touring artist participated as a support act.

Notable acts included on the "Top Touring Artists Of The Pollstar Era: Boxoffice Grosses" list:

#9 METALLICA ($1,219,599,179)
#23 GUNS N' ROSES ($751,306,152)
#27 AC/DC ($668,427,967)
#41 KISS ($532,363,017)
#42 DEF LEPPARD ($514,231,844)
#44 IRON MAIDEN ($475,817,777)
#51 MUSE ($413,911,387)
#55 FOO FIGHTERS ($397,110,491)
#63 MÖTLEY CRÜE ($367,345,912)
#65 PEARL JAM ($351,816,504)
#73 RUSH ($341,767,928)
#89 Vans Warped Tour ($296,571,532)
#91 VAN HALEN ($295,611,828)
#97 ZZ TOP ($278,705,470)
#99 SCORPIONS ($271,865,172)
#100 TOOL ($269,044,896)
#113 QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT ($225,209,819)
#119 GREEN DAY ($204,959,692)
#132 OZZY OSBOURNE ($186,754,231)
#143 Ozzfest ($174,320,095)

Notable acts included on "Top Touring Artists Of The Pollstar Era: Tickets Sold" list:

#6 METALLICA, with 19,468,173 tickets sold for a gross total of $1,219,599,179
#22 AC/DC, with 11,512,424 tickets sold for a gross total of $668,427,967
#23 DEF LEPPARD, with 11,321,650 tickets sold for a gross total of $514,231,844
#27 Vans Warped Tour, with 10,524,715 tickets sold for a gross total of $296,571,532
#30 KISS, with 9,867,419 tickets sold for a gross total of $532,363,017
#35 IRON MAIDEN, with 9,187,132 tickets sold for a gross total of $475,817,777
#36 ZZ TOP, with 9,104,788 tickets sold for a gross total of $278,705,470
#42 MÖTLEY CRÜE, with 8,748,806 tickets sold for a gross total of $367,345,912
#43 RUSH, with 8,593,428 tickets sold for a gross total of $341,767,928
#44 GUNS N' ROSES, with 8,470,755 tickets sold for a gross total of $751,306,152
#53 VAN HALEN, with 7,483,253 tickets sold for a gross total of $295,611,828
#63 PEARL JAM, with 7,006,815 tickets sold for a gross total of $351,816,504
#66 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, with 6,846,945 tickets sold for a gross total of $391,478,473
#78 MUSE, with 6,124,001 tickets sold for a gross total of $413,911,387
#80 OZZY OSBOURNE, with 6,006,522 tickets sold for a gross total of $186,754,231
#83 SCORPIONS, with 5,864,625 tickets sold for a gross total of $271,865,172
#84 FOO FIGHTERS, with 5,815,511 tickets sold for a gross total of $397,110,491
#88 PINK FLOYD, with 5,662,178 tickets sold for a gross total of $159,560,275
#105 GREEN DAY, with 4,764,387 tickets sold for a gross total of $204,959,692
#109 TOOL, with 4,483,293 tickets sold for a gross total of $269,044,896
#118 POISON, with 3,911,113 tickets sold for a gross total of $77,878,900
#120 Ozzfest, with 3,802,261 tickets sold for a gross total of $174,320,095
#149 LINKIN PARK, with 3,211,166 tickets sold for a gross total of $164,426,28

Back in 2019, less than a year before the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the globe, Pollstar named METALLICA one of the top-earning hard rock and metal tours of the "2019 Midyear" reporting period, which covered the six-month range from November 22, 2018 to May 22, 2019. The group's 21 North American "WorldWired" arena shows during the reporting period grossed a total of $41.7 million, good for an average per-show gross of $1.99 million. With an average attendance of more than 16,000, the band moved nearly 350,000 tickets altogether. On a per-show basis, METALLICA did even better internationally, as five of the six European stadium concerts the group performed in May 2019 grossed a combined $28 million thanks to an average attendance of more than 58,000. Altogether, the band grossed $69.7 million in the six-month reporting period, making the group the fourth highest-grossing act in the world during that time behind only Elton John, Pink and Justin Timberlake — each of whom sold fewer tickets but had a higher average ticket price.

METALLICA played its first concert of 2022 on February 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show, which was reportedly attended by 60,000 fans, featured support from GRETA VAN FLEET and ICE NINE KILLS.

The Las Vegas show took place more than two months after METALLICA's two 40th-anniversary concerts at Chase Center in San Francisco, California which featured different setlists. They were part of METALLICA's "San Francisco Takeover", a four-day citywide celebration of the band's 40th anniversary that also included a film festival, photo exhibit and curated lineup of smaller venue shows featuring other acts.

In February, METALLICA announced it will perform only two U.S. summer stadium shows in 2022: Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York on August 11, and PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. Both shows will feature special guests GRETA VAN FLEET and ICE NINE KILLS.

METALLICA previously played at Highmark Stadium on July 25, 1992, and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium on July 26, 1992.

Acclaimed rock/metal guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning, Arch / Matheos) has joined with powerhouse rock vocalist Steve Overland (FM) to create the new group, Kings Of Mercia. Accompanying the duo on the upcoming debut album are Matheos' Fates Warning bandmate Joey Vera on bass, and legendary drummer Simon Philips. The self-titled album will be released on September 23 via Metal Blade Records and is now available for pre-orde.


Today, Kings Of Mercia are pleased to share the first single, "Wrecking Ball". Watch the visualizer for the single below.


Jim Matheos had this to say about the song: "'Wrecking Ball' was the first song I wrote for what would become Kings Of Mercia, it's also the opening track on the album. I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do musically but this one came together very quickly and naturally without too much forethought. The combination of simple but heavy riffs along with Steve's powerful vocals sets the tone and mood for the rest of the record."




Steve Overland on the track: "'Wrecking Ball' is a great introductory track for what Kings Of Mercia are all about, and a great taster for what to expect from the rest of the album. A powerful hard hitting, anthemic rock track, with melody and great individual performances from all the band."





The album will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Wrecking Ball"
"Humankind"
"Sweet Revenge"
"Set The World On Fire"
"Too Far Gone"
"Liberate Me"
"Nowhere Man"
"Everyday Angels"
"Is It Right?"
"Your Life"


"Wrecking Ball" visualizer:





Best known as the founding guitarist for Fates Warning, but with countless other projects under his belt - including Arch / Matheos and most recently Tuesday The Sky - Jim Matheos is incapable of stifling his creativity. In early 2021, he started working on the songs that would become Kings Of Mercia's self-titled debut album, bringing his distinct style yet doing something a little different. "I started writing without any real idea of what direction I wanted to go in or what I was going to do with the material. The first few songs came together quickly and were a bit more straightforward than I'm used to, and I really liked that idea, kind of going back to my early heavy/hard rock roots." Not having any pre-conceived ideas of what the record should or would end up sounding like, at least early on, certainly helped, "as did the fact that it's our first record, so there was nothing to measure it against or expectations to live up to, even if only in my own head."


Churning out songs, Matheos' next concern was to find the musicians who would help him realize the material, and his first priority was a vocalist. It was his friend Jeff Wagner who suggested FM's Steve Overland, and another friend, rock journalist Dave Ling, who put them in touch with each other. "Jim had asked Dave for my contact details, we talked about his idea for mixing the two styles, his heavier background, with my melodic/bluesier direction," says Overland. "We decided to try a collaboration on one song and see how it worked, we came up with the track "Humankind", and we both loved it." Having already settled on this hard rock direction, it was only once Matheos got the first couple of songs back from Overland that it became all the way clear of the shape the record would take, with the vocalist sending over his parts every few weeks, everything gradually coming together.


Behind the kit for the record is the legendary Simon Phillips (ex-Toto, Derek Sherinian), one of Matheos' favorite drummers. "I decided to contact him on a whim, not really expecting that he'd be available or interested in this project. But, to my surprise, he liked the music and was able to fit some recording into his schedule. It's an honor to share a credit with him and I couldn't be happier with what he added to the record." Rounding out the group is bassist Joey Vera - Matheos' Fates Warning bandmate - who brings his trademark style and professionalism to the table. "My old friend and co-worker Joey Vera was a natural choice for bass. Not only did I know he would deliver performance-wise, but it was nice to have a familiar face among the new personalities." With these players involved it was an easy, stress-free process throughout, making music for the love of it, and coming up with something that sounds familiar yet new, expanding the repertoire of all involved. This means songs like the half-acoustic ballad, half-swaggering "Too Far Gone" or the beautiful "Everyday Angels", and the soaring "Wrecking Ball", which opens the record on a high note, all brought to life in dynamic style.


Lineup:


Jim Matheos - Guitars
Steve Overland - Vocals
Joey Vera - Bass
Simon Phillips - Drums


(Photo - Jeremy Saffer/Scott Towns)

Neurot Recordings, in conjunction with Rocket Recordings, presents Liminal, the second LP from UK-based industrial/electronic hybrid act Petbrick, formed by Wayne Adams (Big Lad, Johnny Broke) and Iggor Cavalera (Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulwax). Confirmed for release in late September, today the cover art, tracklisting, pre-orders, and more have been posted. A video for the lead single, “Primer”, can be found below.


With eleven futuristic, dystopian movements, Petbrick’s Liminal unloads an intense but organic biomechanical sound possibly derived from the realms of industrial, death metal, hardcore, EDM, ambient, and more while defying any direct genre confines, as heard on their prior LP, multiple EPs and singles, collaborations with labelmates Deafkids, and more. Liminal was recorded and mixed by Wayne Adams at Bearbiteshorse Studio in London, mastered by Stephen Kerrison at Tall Trees Audio Mastering, and completed with art direction/design by Chris Reeder and Petbrick and Liminal logo by Iggor Cavalera. The record contains guest contributions from Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Jacob Bannon (Converge), Paula Rebbeledo (Rakta), and rappers Lord Goat and Truck Jewelz.


The lead single and opening track to Petbrick’s Liminal, “Primer”, has been issued through a video directed by Wayne Adams, who writes, “‘Primer’ is a brutal smash to the face; a slow build lets rip with an unholy blast of thunderous drums and blasts of crushing distorted kick drums. The video for ‘Primer’ is a visual feast of lo-fi glitch and rot, tapping into the initial dread, horror, and release of a journey inwards.”




Liminal will see release on vinyl and digital formats September 23 in North America through Neurot Recordings and in Europe via Rocket Recordings. Find North American pre-orders here and international pre-orders here.





Tracklisting:


"Primer"
"Arboria"
"Pigeon Kick"
"Raijin"
"Lysergic Aura" (featuring Lord Goat and Truck Jewelz)
"Damballa"
"Ayan"
"Grind You Dull" (featuring Jake Bannon)
"Chemical Returns"
"Distorted Peace" (featuring Paula Rebellato)
"Reckoning" (featuring Steve Von Till)


"Primer" video:





Petbrick has also confirmed tour dates supporting Converge and Full Of Hell this Fall, the tour running from November 6 through the 13th.
Watch for additional live actions to be confirmed over the weeks ahead.





Dates:


November
6 - Electric Brixton - London, UK
7 - La Cigale - Paris, France
8 - Vooruit - Ghent, Belgium
9 - Doornroosje - Nijmegen, Netherlands
10 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
11 - Felsenkeller - Leipzig, Germany
12 - Kulturfabrik - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
13 - Essigfabrik - Köln, Germany


(Photo - Al Overdrive)

June 2021 saw the release of Helloween's new self-titled studio album. Media and critics were cheering almost breathlessly, but the fans were the ones who catapulted the album straight to #1 in Germany and Spain, into the Top 5 of seven countries and worldwide 15 times into the best of the year album charts. Everybody was united in their opinion: these 12 tracks generated their own genre universe and leave all competitors behind, even after 35 years of band history.





Helloween are now finally touring to present their new songs alongside Swedish templars of steel, HammerFall, around the globe since early May. An extensive journey which saw them also stopping by at Prague's prestigious O2 Arena where they performed for 14,000 crazy pumpkinheads a few weeks ago - and where they were surprised themselves in the form of receiving gold awards for sales of their recent  album in the Czech Republic!




Watch the video about this history-charged evening - captured by Markus Dörnberger (www.doernberger.de) - below:





As a special treat for all vinyl collectors and to mark the occasion, various Helloween back catalogue albums but also a few new variants of their now "golden" self-titled record will be released by Atomic Fire on September 30, and can be pre-ordered here.





Find Helloween's tour itinerary and ticket links here.


(Photo - Martin Häusler)

Ruby The Hatchet have released the literally killer video clip “Thruster” as the first single from the forthcoming album Fear Is A Cruel Master. The New Jersey psychedelic heavy rockers will present their new full-length on October 21, 2022. Preorder the album here.


The stunning video for “Thruster”, which follows the exploits of a murderous gang of female bikers in the style of a 70s B-movie in glorious Technicolor can be seen below.


Ruby The Hatchet comment: The first single, 'Thruster', is an up-tempo, standout song that our drummer Owen brought to the table", singer Jillian Taylor writes. "Between the band fleshing it out, and Owen and myself doing double duty with vocal writing, 'Thruster' was a no-brainer for the first preview of our new album. Its gallop beat and menacing guitar riff immediately had me envisioning something ominous. We all love old campy horror and sci-fi, and have come to picture our music videos as fun short films that should be representative, but not taken too seriously. After re-watching a lot of Grindhouse, creating a storyboard for those visions, and assembling the perfect crew to pull it off (Hayden Hall, Ben Mazz, Don Vincent Ortega, and some of our most badass motorcycle riding friends), all of this came to life (and, as you'll see, death) in a super fun and uniquely Ruby way."




Tracklisting:


“The Change”
“Deceiver”
“Primitive Man”
“1,000 Years”
“Soothsayer”
“Last Saga”
“Thruster”
“Amor Gravis”


“Thruster” video:





Line-up:
Jillian Taylor – vocals
Johnny Scarps – guitar
Lake Muir – bass
Owen Stewart – drums, vocals
Sean Kahn Hur – keyboards, organ


(Photo – Don Vincent Ortega)

City Of Caterpillar return with their first new album in 20 years, Mystic Sisters, out September 30 on Relapse Records.


Watch the “Decider” music video (directed by Nath Milburn) below and listen to the track on all streaming services and pre-save Mystic Sisters at orcd.co/cityofcaterpillar. Mystic Sisters preorders are available now on LP/CD/CS at relapse.com.


Tracked primarily at Montrose Recording in Richmond, Mystic Sisters was self-produced by the band and then mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Bosse-de-Nage).




Additionally, City Of Caterpillar have announced the Mystic Sisters tour for this fall around their appearance at The Fest.


When guitarist/vocalist Brandon Evans, guitarist Jeff Kane, drummer Ryan Parrish and bassist/vocalist Kevin Longendyke unveiled their self-titled debut in 2002, their emotional, frenzied and often cinematic music was at the vanguard of the burgeoning screamo movement. Along with bands like Pg.99 (with whom they shared members), Majority Rule, Planes Mistaken For Stars and others, they helped develop a style of music that took hardcore into convulsive new territory.


After years spent living in other parts of the country and playing in other bands—including Darkest Hour, Malady and Ghastly City Sleep, the long awaited City Of Caterpillar reunion shows snowballed into writing sessions. The result - Mystic Sisters, an album that recaptures the magic of old while taking the band’s music into exciting new territory! The winding and atmospheric title track that embodies City Of Caterpillar's experimental side features some noise violin from Evans’ former Pg. 99 bandmate Johnny Ward, while tracks like "Decider" and "Paranormaladies" showcases the band's roots with a flurry of viceral, noisey hardcore swagger.


Ultimately, City Of Caterpillar are more concerned with creating a mood than telling a story. “The band is always focused on mood,” Evans confirms. “To me, that’s the most important thing. I don’t really want people dissecting what we’re trying to say, because it’s not really about us. It never has been. What we cared about 20 years ago was innocent, raw emotion, and that’s what we care about now.”





Tracklisting:


“Thought Drunk”
“Paranormaladies”
“Decider”
“Mystic Sisters”
“Manchester”
“Voiceless Prophets”
“In The Birth Of A Fawn”
“Ascension Theft…(Gnawing Of The Bottom-Feeders)”


“Decider” video:





Tour dates:


September
29 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
30 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall


October
1 – Philadelphia, PA – Philamoca
2 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
27 – Asheville, NC – The Odd
28 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
29 – Gainesville, FL- The Fest
30 – Birmingham, AL – Seasick Records
31 – Nashville, TN – DRKMTTR 


(Photo – Reid Hatihcock)

Frayle’s newest single and video may be their most gripping yet. The ritual doom metal act, featuring frontwoman Gwyn Strang and guitarist Sean Bilovecky, is partnering with Knotfest.com to premiere the video today. Filmed in New York City and Salem, Massachusetts, the infamous site of the Salem Witch Trials, the provocative art piece is a powerful meditation on empowerment and shedding the mask to reveal the true self.


Says Strang, “'Bright Eyes' is about the facade we wear when we’re going through something heavy. Sometimes we’ll mask what we’re going through so that everyone around us feels comfortable or doesn’t ask us to show and share our vulnerabilities.


The imagery of a female 'goth' roller skating past the house that was once lived in by a judge that was personally responsible for the executions during the Salem Witch Trials is powerful to us.”




“Bright Eyes” is from Frayle’s forthcoming LP, Skin & Sorrow, which will now be released September 23 via Aqualamb Records.


Skin & Sorrow was fully written and recorded by Bilovecky and Strang from the third floor of their own studio, on the edge of Cleveland, surrounded by ancient lakes and woods that echo the howls of coyotes. The band is rounded out live by Jason Knotek on bass and Jon Vinson on drums.


The record follows Frayle’s groundbreaking debut 1692 in 2020 that further introduced the world to their penchant for creating “lullabies over chaos.” Tracks feature Strang’s ambient vocals laid over the voluminous instrumentals of Bilovecky (formerly of Disengage), morphing into disturbing harmonies best described as music for the night sky and are poised to dominate the doom circuit.


In addition to haunting original tracks that push heavy music into new dimensions (an inspirational mix of Sleep and Portishead, or Black Sabbath and Bjork), the duo is known for their cryptic covers including takes on Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” and Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.”


Recently, Frayle signed to The Oracle Management, now part of the roster that also includes Cradle of Filth, DevilDriver, Jinjer, Wednesday 13 and more hard rock and metal acts all represented by co-owners of The Oracle Management Dez and Anahstasia Fafara. In one of the first orders of business, Frayle joined on for Cradle of Filth’s “Existence Is Futile” Headlining Tour.


Presales for Skin & Sorrow are available now at Aqualamb Records’ webstore with iridescent, metallic blue, metallic turquoise and metallic violet vinyl variants, CD and digital options. dditional Europe only vinyl variants will be coming via Lay Bare Recordings. Each purchase comes with an accompanying 100-page book filled with lush artwork, drawings, lyrics and additional content to get inside the mind of Frayle and the creative process.





Tracklisting:


“Treacle & Revenge”
“Bright Eyes”
“Skin & Sorrow”
“Ipecac”
“Stars”
“Roses”
“Sacrifant”
“All The Things I Was”
“Song For The Dead”
“Perfect Wound”


“Bright Eyes” video:





(Photo - Damien Eduardos)

Vented is an international supergroup featuring Sean Zatorsky (Sinsaenum, Chimaira), Austin D’Amond (DevilDriver, Bleed The Sky), Gergo Hajer (Omega Diatribe), and Simon C. Bondar (Sexual Education, White Tiger).


Their brand new song's called “The End Game” from the upcoming full-length debut record. Cruelty And Corruption takes you back in time to the finest era of groove metal with pure sonic aggressiveness, soul squeezing melodies, wall breaker riffs and insane drumming.







Vented has started to work on their debut record in 2021 originally with the mighty Joey Jordison (ex-Slipknot/Vimic/Sinsaenum) on drums and French music producer HK Krauss (Sinsaenum, Betraying The Martyrs, Dagoba) but due to the unfortunate tragedy, Austin jumped behind the drums to keep Joey's legacy.


Cruelty And Corruption will contains 13 bangers which showcase the rawness and sonic brutality of the band.

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman John Corabi, who joined the band in 1992 as the replacement for original singer Vince Neil, has told "The Chuck Shute Podcast" that he was disappointed with how Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx responded to his request for help after his son found himself battling heroin addiction.

Corabi said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Look, at the end of the day, Tommy and I are fine. Tommy still texts me. We contact each other on Instagram. But I didn't do anything until Tommy reached out to me first and said, 'Hey, Crab. How've you been?' Blah blah blah. Whatever. Or I posted something and he made a comment about it. And then I reached out.

"I wasn't mad at them," he clarified. "I was a little disappointed in the fact that… If you wanna be upset with me, awesome. C'est la vie. But you watched my kid grow up.

"I reached out to them," Corabi repeated. "I did not ask them for money. I did not ask them for anything. What I asked them for was… 'Hey, you guys have dealt with heroin addiction. How do I handle this?' I got nothing from Nikki at all — no response. No nothing. And Tommy just wrote back — he just wrote back one word. He wasn't, like, 'Oh, shit, dude. Sorry. Fuck! Are you kidding me? Ian's taking drugs?' Nothing. He just wrote 'rehab'. No, like, 'Rehab. Good luck. Tommy.' Like, nothing. He just wrote 'rehab' [and hit] 'send'."

John went on to say that he was especially "bummed out with Tommy" because Lee was the one that got his son Ian his first drum set. "Tommy was the one that Ian looked up to," he said. "And I just said, 'You know what? I have reached out to those guys on multiple occasions.' I reached out to Nikki when he divorced Donna D'Errico. I reached out to Tommy when the kid died in his pool. I reached out to Tommy when he went to prison. I reached out to Tommy and all those guys multiple times and I never got a response. But I thought maybe if they realized that there was something wrong with my son, they would just go, 'Hey, dude. Here. Call this counselor.' Or, 'Hey, this guy is a really counselor. He can help you figure it out.' They didn't respond. Okay. C'est la vie. I just said, 'Fuck it. Whatever. I'm done with those guys. I won't ever bother them again. I won't ever call them again. I won't forget it.' … I will never forget the fact that I asked what I thought were my friends to help me out. Not even with money. 'Hey, do you have a phone number for a counselor or something that I can reach out to?' And I didn't get anything. So I'm, like, 'All right. Whatever.'

"It is what it is, dude," Corabi added. "I'm not angry about it, but I have a very good, long memory. So it is what it is. I kind of figured out I can write to Tommy. I won't ever bring it up. 'Hey, how's it going? How's your wife?'

"I love Tommy. But, listen, we're all like brothers. We love each other; we hate each other. It is what it is. But that's my story. I'm sticking to it."

With Corabi on vocals, MÖTLEY CRÜE released one critically acclaimed full-length CD, which ended up being a commercial failure in the wake of grunge despite a Top 10 placing on the album chart. When Neil returned to the fold in 1997, Corabi was left on his own and formed UNION with Bruce Kulick.

In a 2016 interview with Sweden Rock Magazine, Sixx said that writing the "Mötley Crüe" LP with Corabi was a prolonged and difficult experience. He went to call it "a very unfocused record" that was "painful for me, because John Corabi can't write lyrics, and I had to do all that work."

In February 2018, Corabi released a live album of his performance of MÖTLEY CRÜE's entire 1994 self-titled album, recorded on October 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. "Live '94: One Night In Nashville" documents the album in its entirety along with the bonus track "10,000 Miles", which was originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the "Quaternary" EP.

Corabi recently completed work on his autobiography. Titled "Horseshoes And Hand Grenades", it was written with the help of MÖTLEY CRÜE historian/author Paul Miles, and was made available in June via Rare Bird Books.

Ted Nugent has blasted pop superstar Taylor Swift for her "hypocrisy" after she topped a list of celebrities whose private jets have produced the highest amount of carbon dioxide so far this year.

U.K.-based sustainability marketing firm Yard published a report last week revealing that Taylor used her private jet more than any other celebrity in 2022, taking 170 flights so far this year, totaling almost 16 days in the air. The aircraft's total flight emissions were 8,293.54 tons of carbon, which is 1,184.8 times more than the average person's total annual emissions.

A spokesperson for Swift quickly shot down the report, saying in a statement: "Taylor's jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals. To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect."

Nugent addressed the report during the latest edition of "The Nightly Nuge", a news-style clip in which he offers his take on the news of our world. He said in part: "You can identify the insanity of the liberals who support the Green New Deal but pollute more in a single private jet flight than the average thousand American households…

"I've got a hell of a carbon footprint because I fly private every night too," Ted admitted. "But the thing is I'm flying over Texas every night where we have more energy reserves than all of Saudi Arabia and Africa combined.

"[World Economic Forum founder] Klaus Schwab and the World Econonic punks, as they're going into their limousines and their private jets and they've got drivers and they've got Mercedeses and they've got the Rolls-Royces, they're gonna tell us we can't own a pick-up truck. The hypocrisy is toxic."

For the Yard study, the company used data from the Twitter account @CelebJets, which tracks private jet travels from celebrities.

Other musicians on the top 10 list included Jay-Z (No. 3),Blake Shelton (No. 5) and Travis Scott (No. 10).

In a 2020 interview with Variety, Swift named climate change as one of the issues that concerned her.

Green New Deal proposals call for public policy to address climate change along with achieving other social aims like job creation and reducing economic inequality. The name refers back to the New Deal, a set of social and economic reforms and public works projects undertaken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression.

Less than four years ago, Schwab called climate change "arguably humanity's most existential challenge" which "requires urgent global action."

German thrash legends Sodom released their fifth album, Tapping The Vein, on August 1st, 1992. Former guitarist Andy Brings celebrated the record's 30th Anniversary with the following message:


"Happy birthday Tapping The Vein! Thirty years ago today, my very first album ever came out, and for many fans around the world it is one of the absolute highlights in the Sodom discography. This makes me very proud.


This anniversary marks 30 professional years for me, as well as a path traveled, which has been quite unique in shape and diversity. This makes me a little bit more proud because I took it on my terms, no matter what price I had to pay for it.




To the next 30 years!"





On June 5th, Sodom made an unhrehearsed surprise appearance at Rock Hard Festival 2022 in Gelsenkirchen. Celebrating the 30th anniverasary of their Tapping The Vein album, the band performed three songs with Andy Brings (Double Crush Syndrome), who was a band member at that time.


Setlist:


"Body Parts"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Wachturm"





Tapping the Vein is the last Sodom album to feature original drummer, Christian "Witchhunter" Dudek.





Tracklist:


"Body Parts"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over the Line"
"Deadline"
"Bullet in the Head"
"The Crippler"
"Wachturm"
"Tapping the Vein"
"Back to War"
"Hunting Season"
"Reincarnation"

Chicago's FOX 32 has shared helicopter video of METALLICA's performance this past Thursday (July 28) on the city's T-Mobile mainstage at this year's Lollapalooza festival.

METALLICA closed its two hour-plus show 20 minutes past the normal 10 p.m. curfew with a rendition of "Master Of Puppets", the title track of its third album, which recently saw new life 36 years after its release following its inclusion in season four of Netflix's hit series "Stranger Things". The popularity of the 1986 song brought it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever in the band's lengthy career.

During METALLICA's performance of "Master Of Puppets" at Lollapalooza, they projected the now-famous scene from the "Stranger Things" season four finale in which Eddie (Joseph Quinn) shreds their classic 1986 track in the Upside Down in order to attract Vecna's legion of minions.

METALLICA has since weighed in on the inclusion of its music in the Netflix show, praising "Stranger Things" creators the Duffer brothers' "next-level" use of their tune. They added that they "were beyond psyched for them to not only include 'Master Of Puppets' in the show but to have such a pivotal scene built around it."

The band previously headlined Lollapalooza in 1996 back when it was still an annual tour. Nearly two decades later, the group returned as a 2015 headliner.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, before Thursday, the last time a rock or metal band graced the T-Mobile Stage at Lollapalooza was the 2021 closing set by the FOO FIGHTERS, their last appearance in Chicago before the untimely passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins earlier this year.

THREE DAYS GRACE drummer Neil Sanderson has weighed in on the news that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) will unite with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, will headline a number of major festivals across North America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who last year said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Sanderson discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a new interview with RadioactiveMike Z, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire". Asked what he thinks about Anselmo and Brown touring again under the PANTERA name, Neil said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Even within my camp, there are some massive PANTERA fans. I think Zakk Wylde was the obvious choice for the job. And it will be what it is.

"I saw PANTERA back when they opened for BLACK… It was actually one of the coolest shows I've ever been to — it was BLACK SABBATH, PANTERA and the DEFTONES in Toronto," he recalled. "That's the last time I saw PANTERA. It was pretty awesome.

"So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see, man," Neil added. "It'll be very interesting to see how it all plays out."

Asked if he would get behind the drums and play for PANTERA if he was approached to jam with Anselmo and Brown, Neil said: "[Laughs] I would have to really sit down… Vinnie Paul, he was such the king of groove, so, yeah, they're pretty big shoes to fill [laughs], let me say that.

"THREE DAYS GRACE, I do play double kick, but I'll never be in SLAYER, let's put it that way. [Laughs]"

Talk about a possible PANTERA "reunion" intensified when Anselmo regularly joined Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY to perform PANTERA's song "I'm Broken" during DOWN's 2014 stint on the "Revolver Golden Gods Tour". That buzz only got stronger after Brown joined the jam on May 23, 2014 when the tour swung through Texas.

Up until his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Ahead of W.A.S.P.'s 40th-anniversary fall 2022 U.S. tour, frontman Blackie Lawless told Ultimate Classic Rock that he has no intention to retire anytime soon.

"I don't think of age as a number," he said. "I think it's how you feel, and I still feel like I'm in my 20s. I feel really good. I can do most everything I've ever done, so I feel pretty good about where I'm at.

"The thoughts of retirement just don't appeal to me," he continued. "I see some people use it as a marketing tool, and I've always thought that was kind of a cheap stunt. I mean, if they're sincere about it, then you probably do — I shouldn't say probably — you do owe it to a fan base to tell them if you're indeed gonna stop.

"I mean, my natural reaction, I'm the kind of person that I would want to just do it till I can't do it anymore," he added. "And then I'd just stop. You know, one day you just don't go into the office anymore. I don't want a gold watch from anybody for my years of servitude. That's not my thing. But I do think that you would have an obligation to let people know if you were indeed gonna stop. But that's just not my thing. That's not the way I would go about it. Because what do you do when you retire?

"You know, we were fortunate enough — and I say we [as in] anybody who does this for a living — you did it because you would've done it for free anyway, so what's there to stop? If you physically cannot do it anymore, I get that. But you've been blessed to make a living at your hobby, this thing that's been your passion. So why do you want to stop? I mean, I don't."

W.A.S.P.'s first live performance since December 2019 took place on July 23 at Skansen in Stockholm, Sweden.

W.A.S.P. recently postponed its European 40th-anniversary tour, originally scheduled for spring of 2022, until the spring of 2023. The new dates will take place in March, April and May of 2023. All tickets previously purchased for the 2022 tour will be valid at the rescheduled 2023 shows.

W.A.S.P. will embark on its first U.S. tour in a decade this fall. The trek will coincide the band's 40th anniversary and will include support from ARMORED SAINT and MICHAEL SCHENKER on select shows.

Lawless has led W.A.S.P. as its lead vocalist and primary songwriter since its beginning. His unique brand of visual, social and political comment took the group to worldwide heights and sold millions of records alongside a legacy of sold-out shows across the globe for four decades. He is joined in W.A.S.P.'s current lineup by bassist Mike Duda and guitarist Doug Blair, whose tenures in the band span 26 and 18 years respectively, along with drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester.

In a May 2022 interview Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Lawless spoke about the status of his long-in-the-works autobiography. He said: "It's taken a whole lot longer than I thought it would, but it's been one of the most fun things I've ever done in my life. It's a tremendous amount of work because there's so many things, over the course of a lifetime, that you forget about, especially when you do what we do for a living. Anybody that does what we do, it's not like the average person out there where you go to work and you do your thing and you get into a routine. And there's nothing wrong with that; it's different.

"I've often said that I've already… because of the schedule and the way that any band has to do things — you're here today; you're somewhere else tomorrow — it's like you've already lived four or five of somebody else's lifetimes," he explained. "And because of the amount of intensity that goes into the same amount of space that everybody has. Twenty-four hours for somebody that does this is not the same as twenty-four hours for somebody that's in a routine. And it can get a little on the insane side.

"The first thing I did was interview everybody that I could think of and said, 'What are your memories of this?'" Blackie revealed. "So I got those. But then where I got the majority of it from was really going back in my own head. And the deeper I got into it, the more things I had totally forgotten about. Because, like I said, there's so many things that will happen in a given day that the only thing you remember is the most intense thing. But maybe the two or three other things that were just under it were just as intense, but you don't remember it. You remember being on the flight the time the guys got angry with a stewardess and stuffed her in the overhead bin, but you don't remember the two or three things that happened under that. That's a true story, by the way."

Asked what he has learned about himself from digging into his life while writing his book, Blackie said: "In the preface of the book, I write that this has been a process of discovery — both good and bad. I would say, after it's all said and done, that it's been far, far more good than bad, because what it's done for me, it's been like writing a script to a movie. And again, like I said, there's a lot of stuff you forget about. But also at the same time, what it does is it helps you connect the dots of your own life, of maybe things that you didn't really think about were connected, and you go back and you look at it and you go, 'This is as plain as the nose on my face. Why couldn't I have seen this before?' And there's been a number of incidences like that — just things that are personal that might not be something that you could share with anybody else, because it wouldn't make sense to them. But then again there may be things that are. So I'm hoping that when people read this, they'll see a lot of themselves in it."

As for whether fans can expect to see Blackie's book and a new W.A.S.P. album released simultaneously, Lawless said: "That was the plan to begin with, but the book is taking way much longer than I thought. We were talking about doing records and trying to get 'em right. Well, it's the same with this — I'm gonna do it once, and I want it to be right."

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss surprised John 5 by leading the audience in a spirited "Happy Birthday" sing-along to celebrate the guitarist's 51st birthday during ROB ZOMBIE's concert in Holmdel, New Jersey Sunday night (July 31).

Prior to launching into the song "Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass" at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Rob addressed the crowd: "Maybe you know, maybe you don't know, today is J5's birthday. As you know, J5 is a really big KISS fan, so I thought to myself, 'What can I get John 5 for his birthday that he doesn't already have?' I went out and got him an original Peter Criss… You don't have this at home, J5, I don't think."

Criss then came out on stage and told the audience: "Hey, listen, it's Johnny's birthday, so I wanna say I'd like you all to sing with me happy birthday to Johnny 5." Everyone happily obliged and a visibly touched John 5 gave Criss a hug before the legendary rocker walked off.

Criss and John 5 are longtime friends, with Peter having made a guest appearance on the guitarist's latest solo album, last year's "Sinner".

John 5, whose real name is John William Lowery, spoke about the collaboration a year ago during an appearance on Sirius XM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said at the time: "Peter Criss is playing drums on the song 'Georgia On My Mind', which is the last song on the record. And I'm telling you… This guy… Barry Pointer, my producer, flew out to Peter's house, set up a couple of mics. Now, this is a jazz type of song, and Peter is known for that jazz feel he has. I shit you not, he sat behind those drums, played two takes. Barry's mouth was dropped open. Wait till you hear this. I mean, it was perfect."

John 5 continued: "It's something you can't teach, is this feel and this vibe. And he nailed it in two takes. And Barry was, like, 'Well, what do we do now?' It took him, like, literally probably eight minutes. And it was just perfect. He was, like, 'There's nothing else we can do. That was perfect.'"

In a 2014 interview, Criss said that he had been working with John 5 on material for a new rock solo album, which he promised would be "heavier" than the stuff he had done in the past.

Criss first left KISS in 1980. Since then he's worked with other bands and released solo albums. He teamed up with KISS again for a reunion tour in the 1990s and most recently in 2004. He was replaced by Eric Singer.

In addition to playing drums in KISS, Peter also provided lead vocals for a number the band's most popular and memorable songs, including "Beth", "Black Diamond" and "Hard Luck Woman".

Criss, who was known as "Catman," released his last solo CD, titled "One For All", in 2007. Peter produced the album himself for the first time, and was joined by guest musicians that included keyboardist Paul Shaffer and bassist Will Lee of "Late Night With David Letterman". The album featured a range of styles, from rock and jazz to blues and Broadway, and included covers of "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "Send In The Clowns".

Criss, who turned 76 last December, played what was being billed as his final U.S. concert in June 2017 at the Cutting Room in New York City.

This past May, Peter joined Australian rockers SISTERS DOLL on stage during their concert at the Cutting Room to perform three songs.

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Doom metal legends TROUBLE have finally begun recording the follow-up to the band's 2013 album "The Distortion Field".

When TROUBLE announced its co-operation with Hammerheart Records in January 2020, it was already planned to record a new LP in the summer of 2020. However, that did not happen due to several reasons, including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But recording finally started in July 2022, according to founding guitarist Rick Wartell.

Asked what fans can expect from the upcoming TROUBLE effort, which is expected in 2023, Wartell said that "will be a real TROUBLE album, with all the trademarks."

Back in February 2019, singer Kyle Thomas, who joined TROUBLE in 2012, told "The Metal Magdalene With Jet" about the band's plans for a new album: "This time they've actually written songs with me in mind as the singer instead of, 'These songs were written when Kory Clarke was in the band, but that didn't work out, so let's give it to Kyle and have him back-cleanup, I guess.'"

TROUBLE's first studio album in six years, "The Distortion Field", landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in Europe in August 2013 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marked the recording debut with Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

TROUBLE played its first show with the band's new lineup in October 2013 at the Day Of Doom festival in Barcelona, Spain.

TROUBLE 2022 is:

Kyle Thomas (vocals)
Rob Hultz (bass)
Mark Lira (drums)
Bruce Franklin (guitar)
Rick Wartell (guitar)

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Singer Eric Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Eric, who was TROUBLE's original singer, died in August 2021 after a battle with COVID pneumonia. He was 62 years old.

According to Wagner's TROUBLE and THE SKULL bandmate Ron Holzner, Eric was generally opposed to institutionalized medicine but he wouldn't make an exception for the COVID vaccine.

"We argued about it, and he stood his ground on the matter," Holzner told the Chicago Reader. "I always joked, 'The World According To Eric Wagner — you should write a book.' He lived his life his way."

Wagner, who smoked cigarettes and occasionally drank and vaped, had health issues, but had begun taking better care of himself and switching to a plant-based diet, Holzner said.

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners announce the release of their debut album on October 7th via Wicked Cool Records.


Their self-titled album is an energetic album that celebrates rock’n’roll and as Ginger explains it is in “the spirit of the music that we all collectively love, from childhood to the present day. Little Feat, The Allman Brothers, Wilco, The Band, Creedence, The Jayhawks, Lone Justice, Jason & the Scorchers, Georgia Satellites, Status Quo, The Stones… from roots country to rock n roll and Americana.”


The uplifting new single “is about a dream Not necessarily one that will come true but enough to have something to look forward to, especially when times seem a little hopeless.”







Ginger adds, "'Lately Always' is a song about hope. About having a dream or a goal just big enough to cling onto and stay afloat on the choppy waters of life. Too much reality can bring some ugly side effects, like disappointment, resentment, or the crushing weight of anticlimax.


Sometimes you need a dream just to keep going, whether daydreaming about a holiday, fantasizing about a new love or imagining a new life for yourself. Some dreams come true, some don't, but every dream helps escape the boredom of real life.


We live at a time when hope is in bigger demand than ever. This song offers hope, escapism and positivity, all wrapped up in a good tune and some tasty harmonies."


And that, right there, is exactly what Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners are all about.. Sanctuary for a tired mind and a weary heart. The comfort of emotionally connecting with a song. The medicine that nothing but music can ever be.





Tracklisting:


"Wasted Times"
"That Smile"
"Footprints In The Sand"
"Lately, Always"
"Dirty Water"
"Work In Progress"
"Breakout"
"Six Years Gone"
"Not The Staying Kind"
"Code Of The Road"


"Wasted Times" video:





For further details, visit Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners on Facebook.


 

In the clip below, Hypocrisy / Pain frontman Peter Tägtgren chats with Finland's  Chaoszine about his journey as a metal frontman. 


On becoming a vocalist


Peter: "At the beginning of the '90s I wanted to try and combine Glen Benton with David Vincent and L-G Petrov. Those were the three highlight bands, so to say: Deicide, Morbid Angel and Entombed. That was the perfect mix for me."







Hypocrisy's latest album, Worship, is 11 tracks of precise, ferocious musicianship. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, Hypocrisy has once more found a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver something metalheads can enjoyably consume with awe and brutal vigor. As usual, all recording and mixing took place at Tägtgren’s Abyss Studio AB in Sweden while mastering was completed by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Audio Mastering. Designed by artist Blake Armstrong (Kataklysm, In Flames, Carnifex), Worship’s artwork speaks to the history of the relationship between humanity and extraterrestrials.


Worship was released on November 26, 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. 





Worship tracklisting:


"Worship"
"Chemical Whore"
"Greedy Bastards"
"Dead World"
"We're The Walking Dead"
"Brotherhood Of The Serpent"
"Children Of The Gray"
"Another Day"
"They Will Arrive"
"Bug In The Net"
"Gods Of The Underground"


"Dead World" video:





"Chemical Whore" video:





Hypocrisy is:


Peter Tägtgren - Vocals, Guitars
Mikael Hedlund - Bass
Reidar Horghagen - Drums
Thomas Elofsson - Session Guitarist

Los Angeles-based post-industrial metal band Zeistencroix has created something quite unique when compared to anything they've ever done before. Specifically, their new single “Ice Queen”.


Released on July 29th, “Ice Queen” can be saved / added at this location, and enjoyed below. The song is personal to the band. It's emotionally driven and very different from what they are used to writing, but at the same time, it feels right to them.







“The song is about a relationship, how one can feel left out of the picture because the other partner never fought enough, or how one can regret not being aware of what was going on in the relationship,” says Zeistencroix vocalist Orlando Draven. “How someone be so cold to leave everything without a care in the world, it is a love song.”


“Ice Queen” was produced and mixed by Tim Palmer, who commented, “Great to mix again for Zeistencroix. Once more the band have delivered powerful songs that manage to remain melodic, but are still as heavy as hell. The challenge of the mixing was to bring out all the beauty of the music, but present it as powerfully as possible. I think we achieved this!”


Inspired by a variety of musical genres, including metal, jazz, rock, and grunge, Zeistencroix consists of leaf singer Orlando Draven, or OD; drummer Santi Rivillas, or Santi; and guitarist Akopan, or AKO. The trio harmonize to create boiling tracks and waves of vibrations indicative of a new era.


Zeistencroix will release their new EP, Cruix-Fixion, on August 26th via Pavement Entertainment. It's being recorded and mixed at Stygian Sound with Alex Crescioni and Tim Palmer. For further details, visit Zeistencroix on Facebook.


 

In a new interview with John Beaudin of RockHistoryMusic.com, original FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm was asked what he thinks of the band's current frontman, Kelly Hansen, who has been in the group for nearly two decades.

"Kelly is all right," Lou said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "He's a good singer. But I think Mick [Jones, FOREIGNER's founding guitarist and leader] really told Kelly, when he first got in the band, that he had to study me, because he sings those songs with the same musical innuendos and vocal licks and ad-libs as I have. He's mimicking me. His voice doesn't sound like me, but he's singing the songs the way I would sing them.

"Some people say, 'Well, take it as a compliment, Lou.' I don't take it as a compliment," Gramm continued. "You're a singer with a big band like that — use your voice and your style. Don't hang your coat on my hook.

"I don't think he should sing the songs verbatim like me," Lou added. "Maybe sing a couple of parts. But let his own influences show — show the fans that he's the new singer now, not me."

Asked what it was like to share the stage with Hansen and other members of the current and original FOREIGNER lineup in 2017 and 2018 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary, Lou said: "It was okay. [Kelly] was bouncing off the walls. He couldn't stand still or sit still. After a song ended, I couldn't even get a word to thank the audience or tell 'em that I was happy to be part of the reunion. At the end of the song, the last song hit, and there wasn't a quarter of a second of space before he was yapping away to the audience… It was, like, 'Jeez, will you quiet down for a minute?'"

Pressed about whether it is "over now" for him and FOREIGNER, Lou said: "I think so, yeah. I don't wanna be a part of it. Well, Ian [McDonald, guitar] has passed away and Ed Gagliardi [bass] passed away, even though he wasn't part of the reunions. Two original members of the six are now gone. And Mick is in very poor health. I think when the new FOREIGNER plays, I've heard that he comes on for one song and then waves and goes offstage. [In the recent past] he would play the whole last half of the set. But then he was in the hospital again for weeks. He had some heart problems and his recovery time was very long and tedious. And I heard that he comes out for one song now — when he comes on. Most of the time FOREIGNER has no original FOREIGNER members in it."

Gramm was the voice on FOREIGNER's biggest hits, including "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" from the band's eponymous debut in 1977, and later songs like "Hot Blooded" and "I Want to Know What Love Is".

The 72-year-old Gramm left FOREIGNER for good in 2002 and has battled health issues in recent years, including the removal of a non-cancerous tumor. He told the Democrat & Chronicle in 2018 that he was planning to retire, but still reunited with FOREIGNER for several shows that year.

FOREIGNER replaced Gramm with Hansen in 2005. Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012.

Gramm and Jones's June 2013 performance of "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Juke Box Hero" at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City marked the first time the pair performed together in a decade after Gramm left FOREIGNER for a second time. Hansen has fronted the group for the past 17 years.

Photo credit: Karsten Staiger

The Dead Daisies have shared a new video recapping week 8 of their European tour. The band states: “From France to Germany we've torn up stages and hung out with the most amazing rock crowds! We're feeling the heat and lovin' it! Check out some of the on-tour shenanigans!”





Last week, The Dead Daisies announced that "the dreaded virus has hit the camp again with Glenn Hughes testing positive and unfortunately unable to continue.




The band added: "In the spirit of The Dead Daisies, 'The Show Must Go On'. As Yogi filled in for David when he was crook, we're forging forward with Yogi playing bass and Dino Jelusick (Whitesnake) joining us on vocals for the rest of these shows."


Jelusick has shared video of the band's July 26th performance at Théâtre Antique de Vienne in Vienne, France.


Jelusick: "First time singing 'Mistreated', no rehearsal. Got a call to do this gig a day before. Opening for Judas Priest."


Line-up:
David Lowy - Guitar
Doug Aldrich - Guitar
Dino Jelusick - Vocals
Yogi Lonich - Bass
Brian Tichy - Drums


Remaining tour dates are as follows:


August
2 - Bamberg, Germany - Brose Arena (special guest for Judas Priest)
5 - Knislinge, Sweden - Time To Rock Festival


The Dead Daisies are set to release their sixth studio album, Radiance, on September 30. Radiance is ten tracks of pure unadulterated brilliant rock. The power of Doug Aldrich and David Lowy’s dual guitars provide a wall of sonic nectar. Front man Glenn Hughes rock solid bass grooves and unmatched vocal intensity, still among the greatest rock singers of all time and the matrix of Brian Tichy’s drums set the engine room on fire!


Radiating heat, Radiance takes you on an exhilarating ride. The first singles off the album, "Radiance" and "Shine On" went straight to air on radio across the globe, were added to digital playlists and received with open arms by tens of thousands of fans and audiences on their EU Summer Tour when played live.


“The new album Radiance is our 2nd album with Ben Grosse producing from top to bottom. We had a great time composing and recording the record and I’m very excited for you all to hear what we put together. Definitely a heavy album but with some cool twists and turns! Hope you all like it.” - Doug Aldrich


Radiance is the second instalment The Daisies have recorded with esteemed producer Ben Grosse at the helm, recorded at The Mix Room in North Hollywood California. All the songs on Radiance are written by David Lowy, Doug Aldrich and Glenn Hughes. Hard-hitting drummer Brian Tichy returned to The Daisies in early 2022 to lay down the drums on Radiance.


“I am very much looking forward to the release of Radiance, the newest LP from The Dead Daisies! It was great to start off being back in the band by getting together with Doug, Glenn, David, and producer Ben Grosse at his studio dialling in the songs that make up Radiance. It was a very smooth, organized process of jamming with the guys getting all drum grooves and parts just right! The final result is another slab of butt-kicking rock! The guys all brought their A-Game and a tight, powerful record was created! I’m looking forward to everyone hearing it and playing more of these songs live in the near future!” - Brian Tichy


Radiance will be available as a Digipak CD with sticker, Gatefold black vinyl with printed inner sleeves and digitally from September 30. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Face Your Fear"
"Hypnotize Yourself"
"Shine On"
"Radiance"
"Born To Fly"
"Kiss The Sun"
"Courageous"
"Cascade"
"Not Human"
"Roll On"


"Shine On" video:





"Radiance" video:





US fall tour dates:


September
7 - Vineland, NJ - The Landis Theater
10 - Danville, VA - Blue Ridge Rock Festival
11 - Fall Church, VA - State Theatre
14 - Nashville, TN - Eastside Bowl
15 - St. Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Vermont Hollywood
21 - Roseville, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
23 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
24 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile